A campaigner has condemned a “tug-of-war game” between Nottingham City Council and the developer behind a new library that still cannot be opened due to a number of defects.
The opening of Sherwood Library in Spondon Street was delayed beyond a planned summer opening last year, following the discovery of a string of problems with the building.
Hockley Developments Ltd had been behind the development, but a hand-over to the council for the libary’s final fit-out continues to be delayed by the need for essential work on the building.
The authority said on Thursday 24 April it is “disappointed” that despite previous assurances from the developer, it is still waiting on key dates for when critical jobs will be completed.
It comes after executive member for leisure and culture, Cllr Sam Lux (Lab), claimed in January all defects had been resolved – and the council pledged to open the library in summer 2025.
Libraries campaigner Des Conway said responsibility for the problems continued to be pushed back and forth between Hockley Developments and the council.
“The tug-of-war blame game goes on between the City Council and the main developer Hockley Developments, and the only losers are the library users in Sherwood, who have been without a library now for over four years,” he said.
“And on this evidence, the promise that the library would open in summer 2025, is looking highly unlikely.”
Mr Conway submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the council asking what work remains to be done.
The response, published in April, reveals there are still more than 60 issues preventing the final fit-out of the library.
Documents list the remaining issues as identified by the council.
These include the installation of new entrance doors, replacement of plants on the living wall and confirmation of a working irrigation system, and repairs to ceiling tiles which have been damaged by a leaking roof.
Another problem points to a non-functional toilet.
A council spokeswoman said: “We are continuing to engage with Hockley Developments, who are responsible for carrying out the outstanding work, ahead of the reopening the library.
“We remain disappointed that after previous assurances, we are still awaiting confirmation of key dates from them for when these works will take place before we programme in the final fit-out work required to reopen the library.
“We understand how important this facility is to the local community and are committed to opening it as soon as possible, subject to this essential work taking place.”
In 2017 the old library was deemed not fit for purpose due to its poor state of repair, and a consultation was held to find out what people wanted from the new facility.
The Labour-run council sold the site to local developer Hockley Developments, with an agreement that the library would be built at no capital cost to the authority, and that a 125-year lease would be agreed at a nominal rent.
Sainsbury’s is now open in the commercial area of the building, but the library remains closed.
Problems first became apparent after the scheme’s previous contractor, Dako Construction, collapsed into administration.
While a new contractor was found and the library building was handed back to the council at the end of 2023 for the final fit-out, its opening was delayed upon the discovery of the defects.
Hockley Developments added: “Hockley Developments (Mansfield Road) Ltd handed over the ground floor to Sainsbury’s and the second floor to residential owners succesfully in December 2023, and the first floor was handed to Nottingham City council at the same date.
